Frederick s



F; s. emwELL.

Combined Shovel and Sifter;

No.,97,860. Y Patented Dee. 14, 1869.

M, l y @XW NA Pneus. Phmummphnf. wmingm nic @sind @mira To all whom itmay concern:

FREDERICK DIDWEL'E or` IIYsrIo "BRIDGE, CONNECTICUT.

`Letters Patent No.f97,860, dated December 14, 1869. I

The Schedule referred to in these Letters`Patent and making part of thesame.

Be it` known that I, FREDERICK S.. B'IDwEnL, of Mystic Bridge, in thecounty of New London, and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful improvernentsin the domesticimplements -known asFire-Shovels; and 'I doA hereby declare thatthe followingV is a full andexact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to more readily and conveniently sift orseparate from the coals and cinders the ashes and ne dirt, and disposeAof both theparts with little labor or expensive apparatus, by means ofa shovel, which may also be used in the ordinary manner, and withoutmaking any holes in the shovel proper, or otherwise involving aliability todropashes or the like.

My invention provides very-convenient means for emptying the ashes andcleaning the device, andre'- pairing or renewing either part. .v

I `will first proceedto describe. what I consider the best means ofcarrying out luy-invention, and will at'- terwards designate the pointswhich I believe to `be new therein; j

The accompanying drawings form a part ot' this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the shovel `Figure 2 is a side view, with theparts in their or- `dinary positions and Figure 3 is a centrallongitudinal section, with the Y parts in the position which they aremade to assume to allow of emptying the ashes.,

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the igures.

` positionrepresented, and the mixture of ashes and `cinders is taken inthe shovel with this grate down in Athe position shown in tig. 2. Thematerial is shaken with the shovel in this condition, and, after theashes liave-sifted through the grate C, into the bottom of the shovel,the cinders may be removed or dumped `from the top ofthe grate C, andthen, by holding the shovel over the ash-box or other vessel, with theiiont edge downward, and liftingthe grate C, the ashes are dumped intosuch second vessel, andthe shovel-is `again ready for use. Y

The form and arrangement of the several parts are "represented veryclearly, and will be understood from a very brief description.

The principal material of the grate may be stout Sheet-iron, steel,Nsemi-steel, or analogous light and strong material, and it may be out indies by any approved machinery. c

The back edge ot' the grate is strengthened by a stout cross-piece, lm.,having trnnnions, m m2, thereon, which are supported in holes inthesides of the shovel. i

A small plain cylindrical hole on one side of the vshovel is indicatedby b1.

Au, oblique slot in the othgr side'of the shovel is Y indicated by b2.

The lower edge of the slot b2 is bent backward, or extendedhorizontally, as represented by b3.

The shovel is made complete, and provided with a swivellingpiece, D,turning on a centre, d, fixed therein. l

The grate is also made separately,;as represented, thc sheet-metal partO being firmly riveted or otherwise secured to the stoutcr'cross-piecem, and also riveted or otherwise secured to the thumb-piece E,

by which the grate may be,lv conveniently lifted with the same band that-holds the shovel.

'Ilo t the grate properly intothe shovel, one trunnion, m,'of the grateG is inserted in the hole b1.

Then the other trunnion, m2, is pushed down kinto the slot b2 until itreaches' the base of that slot, and is then drawn backward into thenotch or rest b3. It is now retained there by turning down the button orswivelling-piece D. y y

This latter should turn ratherstify von the rivet cl,

so that it will remain in the position in which itisleft.

I do not confine myself 'to' the entire form and construction of thegratehere represented. Its curvature may be varied within wide limits,or it mayj be made perfectly plain, or even curved downward, withouttotally preventing the performance of its useful functions. i y

So also the strengthening-piece m and the thumbpiece may be attached by'other means, or may, by proper processes, be made in one piece withthemain body of the grate.

The shovel-body may be varied in dimensions and in material, as will beobvious. V

The trunnions may be formed inone piece with the body of the grate,instead of an added piece, and the grate may be made with round orother#` shaped holes, of suitable size, instead of with the longrectangular apertures represented, and which are, for obvious reasons,generally considered preferable. v

Iclaim- 4 l. The combination of a fire-shovel with a grate or strainer,iitted therein, when the latter is adapted to be lifted, to allow theremova'l of the ashes, substantially as herein described.

2. A fire-shovel, having a grate or sieve contained centre d, all asherein specified, andv for the purposes within it, and means, D d, ortheir equivalent, for disherein set forth. 4 connecting the sameatwill,subsmntia1ly as and for In testimony whereof, l have hereunto setmy the purposes herein specified. name, in presence of Ir-wo subscribingwitnesses.

3. The within-described general combination, con FREDERICK S. BIDWELL.struction, and arrangement of a. shovel-body, B, with Witnesses: hole b1and slot b2 b, the grate or sieve C, with trun- GEORGE ELDRIDGE, Jr.,nions m1 fm2, and the fastening-button D, turning on D. N. DENIsoN.

